Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Today, I wanted to share a small piece of action that Diplomat Consulting does to create an inclusive work environment.

We are all encouraged to share our pronouns in our email signatures. As a cis-gender woman, I recognize the privilege I hold in being able to do this; but I know that I want to use this privilege to allow others the same luxury. When someone meets me via email, I want them to know upfront my values and in this digital space, I know that there will be people who only meet me via email.  I strongly believe that the world is changed not only by your opinions but by your actions. These visible acts of inclusion might not seem radical to some, but creates an intentional desire on our part to live our values out. We also see social media platforms adding the option for you to add these to your personal profile such as Instagram.

Making the spaces around you more inclusive is as much about large system-wide changes, as it is about these simple acts. While we can’t solve every issue in just one day, this is a simple change you can make to help move the needle forward. 

Here are some additional resources that the team at Diplomat Consulting has compiled. 

• What are personal pronouns and why they matter? 
• Forbes: Should You Put Pronouns In Email Signatures And Social Media Bios?
• University of British Columbia, Office of Equity & Inclusion – Guide on Using Pronouns 
• Ryerson University – Why include pronouns in your email signature.
• Youtube Video: Why Gender Pronouns Matter: Trans Students Explain Why Pronouns Are Important